Rethinking How We Teach: Science Meets Classroom Practice
First in the professional development series
Brain science and education research challenge us to rethink common classroom practices and examine our beliefs about language learning.
This award-winning teaching demonstration puts language teachers in the role of language learners as they learn Swedish via classical TPR (Total Physical Response), TPRS (Teaching for Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) and CBI (Content-Based Instruction). From this experience, teachers gain unique insights for refining their own teaching skills. TPRS uses interactive storytelling as a technique to acquire a new language in a low-stress and highly engaging environment. Multiple intelligence strategies naturally integrated into the lesson set the stage for all kinds of students to experience success. No wonder foreign language education conferences awarded the “Best of Minnesota” and the “Best of Central States” to this presentation!
Experience
- A storytelling language class from a student’s perspective
- Enjoyment while learning the Swedish language and Swedish culture
Reflect
- On strategies that raise and lower students’ confidence and therefore ability to learn new language
- On your own current practices – How they are similar or different from today’s lesson? What is best practice?
Analyze
- How do learners acquire language naturally?
- Why do whole language approaches work?
- Understand today’s experience by relating it to language acquisition and multiple intelligence theories
Integrate
- What will you take from today’s experience?
- How and when will you integrate this into your teaching?
